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<\/a><\/p>\nThis fall, Communities In Schools of San Antonio<\/a> celebrates a remarkable milestone: our 40th school year of walking alongside students, families, and educators. Our theme \u2014 \u201cOne Mission, Many Futures: Champions for Every Student\u201d \u2014 is more than a slogan. It\u2019s a call to action. A reminder that every child deserves a community of caring adults in their lives, united in support of their dreams and goals for the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n Never miss San Antonio Report’s biggest stories.<\/p>\n Sign up for The Recap<\/strong>, a newsletter rundown of the most important news, delivered every Monday and Thursday.<\/p>\n CIS-SA is also an anchor partner helping lead the work of the Future Ready Bexar County Plan<\/a>, which aims to increase postsecondary enrollment of Bexar County High School graduates in a degree or credential program to 70% by 2030 through the focus areas of healing, access, voice and system supports.<\/p>\n This September, during National Suicide Prevention Month, we are especially mindful of the urgent need to support youth mental health to particularly align with the healing focus area of the community-wide plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n In honor of our legacy and with our eyes firmly on the future, we\u2019re proud to announce a new partnership with FRBC Public School Districts East Central ISD<\/a> and Southwest ISD<\/a> to launch the Hope Squad<\/a> program in two high schools in each district.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hope Squad\u2019s purpose is to foster human connection, community, and hope. Their approach is to elevate mental wellbeing through peer-to-peer suicide prevention programming. Hope Squad\u2019s curriculum prepares advisors to educate students to recognize signs of distress, offer compassion, and connect their peers to trusted adults and resources. It\u2019s built on the simple but powerful idea that students often turn to each other first \u2014 and that with the right tools, they can be the difference between despair and hope.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know that students thrive when they feel seen, heard, and supported,\u201d said Jessica Weaver, president and CEO of CIS-SA. \u201cHope Squad aligns perfectly with our mission and our 40-year legacy of showing up for kids. This partnership is a powerful reminder that when we invest in connection, we cultivate resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n Hope Squad has a rapidly growing presence in Texas with nearly 500 active schools, where they are equipping students to prevent youth suicide, according to the organization\u2019s CEO Eric Workman.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThrough this partnership with CIS-SA, the Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio, ECISD, and SWISD, we can seamlessly integrate mental wellness into the school community and support students in a comprehensive way. I\u2019m excited to see how these two launches will transform the school culture and save lives,\u201d Workman added.\u00a0<\/p>\n This transformative initiative is made possible by the generous support of the BHFSA, whose commitment to youth mental health is helping us bring life-saving support directly into our schools.<\/p>\n \u201cAt BHFSA, we view hope as a valuable tool for promoting community health,\u201d said Cody Knowlton, president and CEO of BHFSA. \u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful thing to see youth empowered to give the gift of hope to each other. We thank God that we\u2019re able to be a part of this work.\u201d<\/p>\n The enthusiasm for the program is shared by the two superintendents of SWISD and ECISD, who see Hope Squad as a way to reinforce their commitment to student well-being.<\/p>\n \u201cAt Southwest ISD, we are committed to creating safe, inclusive environments where every student can thrive,\u201d said Dr. Jeanette Ball, superintendent of SWISD. \u201cPartnering with CIS-SA and Hope Squad allows us to deepen that commitment and ensure our students have the support they need \u2014 emotionally and academically.\u201d<\/p>\n ECISD Superintendent Roland Toscano echoed that sentiment, noting that the partnership aligns with their long-standing investment in student health and resilience.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough our partnership with CIS-SA, we\u2019re ensuring that students across East Central ISD have access to timely, effective behavioral health support,\u201d Toscano said. \u201cHope Squad is a vital part of that vision \u2014 helping students build resilience and know they\u2019re never alone.\u201d<\/p>\n This collaboration reflects a countywide push to prioritize youth mental health, turning local and national data into action through programs like Hope Squad.<\/p>\n